1 Samuel 14:40

1Sa 14:40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Ver. 40. Do what seemeth good unto thee.] So they had said once before. {1Sa 14:36} Silken words must be given to princes as she in the story said. {a} But when Saul spake of putting Jonathan to death, there was first altum silentium {1Sa 14:39} and then an absolute opposition, {1Sa 14:45} and a forcible rescue.

{a} Plut.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then said he unto all Israel,.... As many of them as were present; not the principal men only, but the common people; not the officers only, but the common soldiers in the army:

be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side: so they divided to the right and left, one went one way, and the other the other; there were two boxes or urns, as Kimchi says, in one of which were the names of Saul and Jonathan, and in the other Israel; though Abarbinel observes, that such a partition of them on one side, and the other, is not according to the manner of lots; and he suspects that Saul knew that Jonathan had tasted of honey, being told it by the man that saw him eat it; and who said to him then, "thy father straitly charged", &c. Sa1 14:27 but chose this way to make it manifest to the people, and to show what a strict regard he had to justice:

and the people said unto Saul, do what seemeth good unto thee; they were very obsequious to him in everything, see Sa1 14:36.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Vers. 40, 41. As God also condemned Saul by his silence, the Urim and Thummim giving no answer, he places himself and Jonathan on one side, and the people on the other, and determines to cast lots. He then prays, Give a perfect lot, or, as in the margin, "Show" (literally, give) "the innocent." This is undoubtedly the meaning of the Hebrew, while the rendering of the text is taken from Kimchi. There are few mistranslations of the A.V which have not some good Jewish authority for them, as King James"s translators were singularly well versed in Jewish literature, while they seem strangely to have neglected the still higher authority of the ancient versions. These generally translate "Give holiness," a phrase equivalent to "Show the truth." The Septuagint and Vulgate add explanations, which, however, throw no light upon the passage.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then he said to all Israel

This was a generalization since only the Israelite soldiers were present. AT: "Then he said to the Israelite soldiers who were there" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

give the Thummim

The Israelites at that time used special stones called the Urim and the Thummim to receive direction from God. AT: "Show us by means of the Thummim" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Thummim

This is a borrowed word from the original language. (See: Copy or Borrow Words)

Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the army was exonerated

This can be stated in active form. AT: "The lots indicated that either Jonathan or Saul was guilty, but the army was not guilty" (See: Active or Passive)

Then Jonathan was taken by lot

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Then the lot indicated that Jonathan was guilty" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

lots

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

On one side. To cast lots between all of you, and us.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.